Victoria keener on pokie reforms

Michelle Grattan and Richard Willingham

The Excelsior Hotel, Mahony's Road in Thomastown, one of many pokies venues Victorians are more willing to see reform in over people for New South Wales. Photo: John Woudstra

VICTORIANS are much more likely to want curbs on gambling than people in New South Wales, according to The Age/Nielsen poll.

Seven out of 10 Victorians support the federal government's plan to introduce pre-commitment to fight problem gambling - in contrast to the bare majority backing (52 per cent) in NSW.

The proposal, being pursued as part of the deal for independent Andrew Wilkie to help keep the Gillard government in power - is still popular nationally, with 61 per cent favouring it in the latest poll.

But, with a tough campaign from the gambling industry, support has started to erode, falling 5 points since April. Opposition to the plan, to require gamblers to pre-set how much they can afford to lose, has risen 5 points to 34 per cent in the national poll of 1401 taken Thursday to Saturday.

Advertisement

Backing has fallen dramatically among Coalition voters - down 10 points to 51 per cent. Support is highest among Green voters (85 per cent, up 6 points) and Labor voters (68 per cent, down 3 points).

Women are more likely than men to back the plan (65 per cent of women compared with 58 per cent of men). Younger people are also more attracted to it; supported by 72 per cent of those 18-24, but only by 53 per cent of those over 55.

The difference between Victorian and NSW reflects the extensive clubs culture in NSW. Pokies were introduced to NSW in the 1950s and there are nearly 100,000 machines in the state. Pokies were introduced to Victoria by the Kennett government and there are under 30,000.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday did not rule out compensation for the industry, saying the government was in discussions with the gaming industry and was open to talks with groups of all types.

Clubs Australia spokesman Jeremy Bath said $1 maximum bets offered no help to more than 90 per cent of problem gamblers.

Senate estimates yesterday heard the government had spent more than half a million dollars on market research for the reforms.

9 comments

I would vote for any political party that was determined to implement major reductions in the availability of any / all forms of gambling. The rise in easy access to gambling has been a major scourge on Australian society.

Commenter

Neil

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 7:07AM

Anyone see the irony that many pokie addicts are begging for controls on their addiction and begging for limits, but those in the hotel industry are desperate to protect the liberty and rights of pokie addicts to not have government controls?

LIBERTY, FREEDOM, NO NANNY STATE...while the addicts sink their pension/fortnights wage/benifits into the machines and then wonder how they will feed their families and themselves for the rest of the week.

Pubs that used to be barns are no massive complexes fueled by the misery of many.

Loan and pawn sharks cruise venues picking up wedding rings and jewelry for 10c in dollar.

but thats ok, we have the right to live in a non nanny state! BTW can anyone lend fifty billion dollars to another broken bank?

Its like a bad episode of the simpsons

Commenter

Dan Warna

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 8:14AM

Wilkie has courage of his convictions.We need a few more like him, parliament might be a bit less of a circusI hope he gets back in, and the reforms get up.

Commenter

Snoopy

Location

West Melbourne

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 8:43AM

Yes, heaven forbid that people actually take responsibility for their own actions. We are not all mindless fools who need the government to place restrictions on anything and everything. If you have a gambling problem or know someone who does, get some counselling....because if restrictions are placed on physical casinos, gamblers will just log on and gamble online.

Commenter

Jay

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 9:28AM

I blame the Kennett government for a great deal, but I thought it was the Kirner labor government that opened the gate to pokies in Victoria. Or maybe she just allowed casinos to operate and Kennett just broadened the scope.

Commenter

cruachan

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 9:51AM

If you are stupid enough to plug your credit card into an online gambling system with a base of operations in a tin pot island in the pacific, you deserve what you get.

While you gamble in our borders, then the government has a duty to offer you some protection from your stupidity.

its damn annoying when these dumbasses lose all their money and then expect handouts from stupid gambling, like all the banks during the GFC...oh noes we lost all our moneys, taxpayers save us.

Commenter

Dan Warna

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 10:04AM

So if I throw my life savings off a bridge, is it the governments fault or the bridges fault? Certainly not mine, that's for sure.

We have a casino - you want to gamble like a fool then go there... we do not need pokies on every corner, and i agree there should be limits on what these idiots can loose....You have responsible serving of alcohol - same thing here